Scuttlebutt Official Publication of Air Group One Commemorative Air Force

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The Scuttlebutt Official Publication of Air Group One Commemorative Air Force

March/April 2013

1905 N. Marshall Ave. Hangar 6 * El Cajon, CA 92020 * 619.259.5541 * www.ag1caf.org * [email protected]

Jim Slattery’s beautiful “new” PBY Catalina on patrol over the Pacific. OK, actually doing a low pass at Gillespie Field with a little artistic license by photographer John Ford. Watch for this airplane at Wings Over Gillespie, June 1 and 2. Contents Notes from the Cockpit...... 2 American Aces of WWII...... 9 Maintenance Officer Report...... 3 Name That Plane...... 10 Coming Events...... 3 Whatever You Can...... 10 What is A-STEM?...... 4 WW II Little Known History...... 11 Air Group One Member Bio...... 5 Normandie Before and After...... 12 I Didn’t Know That...... 5 Laff Trak...... 14 Commemorating the Gallant in the Pacific of WWII. 6 2 The Scuttlebutt March/April 2013

Two new staff members! Notes CAF regulations require a Unit Staff to fill vacant officer positions. Accordingly, at the February staff meeting your staff elected John Telles, previously Operations from the Officer, to fill the remainder of my term as Executive Officer that I vacated when I was elected Wing Leader. Cockpit We then elected Erich Moulder to fill the remainder of John’s term as Operations Officer. Congratulations to Col. Jim McGarvie, Wing Leader both these men; I am looking forward to working with To paraphrase a former president, ask not what Air them in their new capacities. Group One can do for you; ask what you can do for On February 28 your Air Group One Adjutant, Jan Mc- Air Group One. Garvie, and I flew our Mooney to CAF headquarters in We always need a lot of help in many different areas; Midland, Texas, for the 2013 Wing Staff Conference. your staff cannot run this organization by itself. Some This annual event is an opportunity to learn aspects of specific needs come to mind: running a CAF Unit like Air Group One from the CAF President, Steve Brown, and members of his staff. • Newsletter editor/publisher Break-out sessions include subjects such as leader- • Webmaster ship, Finance Officer training, fundraising and event • Events Director planning, ride program and how to price your airplane, • Fundraising managing a PX, membership recruiting and retention, On second thought, I withdraw the statement I made at grant writing, social media… and the list goes on. the beginning of this column. Please do ask what Air In addition to those worthwhile sessions, there was Group One can do for you! This is your organization; ample opportunity to talk to members of other CAF what would you like to see? What can we do better? units around the country and learn what they do and For example, what is your opinion of The Scuttlebutt? how they do it. Should we go to quarterly? Drop it altogether? Is it worth the time and effort that goes into it? Unfortunately, much like the International Council of Air Shows (ICAS) annual conference, there are so many How about Movie Night? The attendance at the Febru- informative sessions conducted simultaneously that it ary Movie Night, counting Mike Dralle and Vicki Moen is impossible for two people to cover them all. This year who go to the effort to put on this monthly event for headquarters made it mandatory for each unit to send our pleasure, was… yep, two! Mike and Vicki enjoyed at least one staff member. In reality, we really needed the movie but aren’t inclined to continue unless more about four. Maybe next year…. interest is shown, and I sure don’t blame them.

Air Group One Staff Members

Wing Leader Jim McGarvie Maintenance Officer Howard Merritt [email protected] 619.890.7340 [email protected] 619.820.5359

Executive Officer John Telles Safety Officer Darrel Cook [email protected] 760.458.4230 [email protected] 619.572.3379

Finance Officer D’Marie Simon Marketing and Webmaster Rich Kenney [email protected] 858.829.4736 [email protected] 858.837.2068

Adjutant Jan McGarvie Scuttlebutt Editor Jim McGarvie [email protected] 619.561.3877 [email protected] 619.890.7340

Operations Officer Erich Moulder Assistant Scuttlebutt Editor Bob Constantine [email protected] 619.929.1025 [email protected] 619.546.7080 March/April 2013 The Scuttlebutt 3 Maintenance Coming Officer Events Report

Col. Howard Merritt You are encouraged to frequently check the I am pretty sure it’s not my coffee that is causing events calendar on the Air Group One Web site for updates: people to show up and put in serious time working on www.ag1caf.org/AG-1_Events.htm the L-5 project. Whatever it is, please let it continue. March 1, 4:00pm...... FlyDays at Cafe The engine has been inspected and confirmed it is corrosion free, based on the removal of cylinder #1. March 6, 6:00pm...... WOG meeting The assembly has almost been completed and we March 9, 8:30am...... Yuma Air Show are waiting for the oil cooler and the carburetor to be inspected. I want to thank Mike Greenhalgh, Jeff Davis March 11-13...... FIFI and Sassy at Brown Field and his son Chance, Dwight Wait, my grandson Max March 14, 5:30pm...... Santee Mixer Merritt, Mike Bonner and Tom Burton and others for their help on the engine. March 15, 7:00pm...... Movie Night

The wings are progressing nicely under the direction March 16, 8:30am...... El Centro Air Show of Darrel Cook and Marvin Robbins. The metal parts in March 16, 11:30am...... BBQ and meetings the original right wing are being removed for cleaning and priming. We will begin assembly of the right wing March 16-23... SD Festival of Science & Engineering soon on the big green table in the back of our hangar. March 20, 8:30am...... A-STEM Day The spars and ribs are already fabricated. The large steam box required to soften the plywood for the lead- April 5, 4:00pm...... FlyDays at Cafe ing edges is being fabricated now. April 6, 9:00am...... Riverside Air Show

A replacement tug is in the works so we can rebuild the April 11, 5:30pm...... Santee Mixer engine/transmission in our old yellow tug. The body will be sandblasted and repainted. The cost of this work April 13, 10:00am.....Grossmont College Career Fair may determine that a replacement tug may be more April 19, 7:00pm...... Movie Night cost effective. All is TBD. April 24, 3:00pm...... El Cajon Classic Cars Flyover We will soon have our latest aircraft, the L-3, arriving from Midland with Colonel Kent Casady at the controls. April 25-27...... Collings Foundation at Gillespie Field Many of our new members are very interested in sign- April 27, 8:30...... AG1 Breakfast and meetings ing up to give her plenty of exercise. She will be an excellent training tool for them. With three aircraft at May 1, 11:30...... Collings B-24 Commemoration at Gillespie AG-1 there will be a need for more maintenance work and more grease monkeys to do it. May 3-5...... Chino Air Show

Yours truly is very excited about the future of AG-1. May 4...... FlyDays at Cafe Drop by and be a part of the exciting events that are May 9...... Santee Mixer happening. The coffee pot is on! May 17...... Movie Night 4 The Scuttlebutt March/April 2013 What is A-STEM and Why Do We Need the A-STEM Program? (No, we didn’t just make this stuff up!!) By John Telles BACKGROUND: As most of you know by now, STEM To meet our needs for a STEM-capable citizenry, a stands for “Science, Technology, Engineering and STEM-proficient workforce, and future STEM experts, Math.” We added the leading “A” for Aviation as Air the Nation must focus on two complementary goals: Group One (AG-1) labeling. With AG-1 staff approval, We must prepare all students, including girls and mi- the A-STEM program began in September 2010 having norities who are underrepresented in these fields, to no idea that a serious study and report was underway be proficient in STEM subjects.And we must inspire all for the U.S. president. But there were already various students to learn STEM and, in the process, motivate resources expounding on many of them to pursue the need. That’s when STEM careers. AG-1 jumped in. Admit- tedly, part of the motiva- RECOMMENDATIONS: tion was to win commu- 1. Standards: support the nity financial support. As it current state-led movement turned out, the big, fancy for shared standards in report to POTUS was very math and science detailed, wide-ranging and long-term, but clearly vali- 2. Teachers: recruit and train dated our selected method 100,000 great STEM teach- of supporting STEM. See ers over the next decade the red highlighting of ex- who are able to prepare and cerpts below. It’s very easy inspire students to Google the entire report 3. Teachers: recognize and for full understanding of reward the top 5 percent of how we fit into this HUGE the nation’s STEM teachers, national program. AG-1 is by creating a STEM master engaged in only number teachers corps five of the seven Recommendations to the President. 4. Educational technology: use technology to drive in- The President’s Council of Advisors on Science novation, by creating an advanced research projects and Technology agency for education Executive Report 5. Students: create opportunities for inspiration September 2010 through individual and group experiences outside the classroom Prepare and Inspire: K-12 Science, Technol- ogy, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Education for STEM education is most successful when students America’s Future develop personal connections with the ideas and ex- citement of STEM fields. This can occur not only in the (Selected excerpts from pages vii to page 14. My red classroom but also through individualized and group ex- highlights for emphasis only. JT) periences outside the classroom and through advanced CONCLUSIONS: courses. The Federal Government should develop a coordinated initiative, which we call INSPIRE, to sup- TO IMPROVE STEM EDUCATION, WE MUST FOCUS port the development of a wide range of high-quality ON BOTH PREPARATION AND INSPIRATION STEM-based after-school and extended day activities (such as STEM contests, fabrication laboratories, sum- March/April 2013 The Scuttlebutt 5 What is A-STEM? I Didn’t Know (cont.) mer and afterschool programs, and similar activities). The program should span disparate efforts of science That mission agencies and after-school programs supported By Robert Bruce through the Department of Education funding. WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT... was our heftiest president, 6. Schools: create 1,000 new STEM-focused schools and once got stuck in a bathtub. He was also the first over the next decade ex-president to be named to the Supreme Court. 7. Ensure strong and strategic national leadership ABE LINCOLN... was the only president who received So here we are, trying to inspire kids of our future who a U.S. patent. will keep the American technological edge on the world. JIMMY CARTER... was the first president to be born Here’s a good one: Did you know that the 30-year-old in a hospital. Experiment Technician on Mars in 2035 is today in the 2nd or 3rd grade? HERBERT HOOVER... was the only president to have an asteroid named after him. WOODROW WILSON... was the only president to earn a PHD. ULYSSES S. GRANT... was the first West Point gradu- ate to be elected president. ANDREW JACKSON... was the only president who once became a prisoner of war. JAMES BUCHANAN... was our only bachelor president. THEODORE ROOSEVELT... was the first president to ride in an airplane.

Air Group One Member Bio We would like to make this a regular feature of The ation Commission and Scuttlebutt. Of course this will only work if members served for four years, actually submit their biographies to us! including two as Chair- person. She also served We are going to start off this month with our new Ad- as secretary for another jutant Officer, Janette Polen McGarvie. nonprofit organization Jan is married to Jim McGarvie, Wing Leader of Air for several years. Group One. They have lived in the San Diego area for Over the past seven 45 years. They have two married sons and two teen- years Jan has made age grandchildren. and donated hundreds Jan graduated from San Jose State University with a of wheel chair lap quilts degree in education and history, and taught school for to the amputee and spinal cord injury wards at Balboa many years. Naval Hospital in San Diego. She was appointed by Governor Pete Wilson in 1994 to the California State Off-Highway Vehicle Recre- 6 The Scuttlebutt March/April 2013 Commemorating the Gallant in the Pacific of WWII Col. John Telles Jr. USMC (Retired) The record stands for August 20, 1942 to February 8, 1943: (Compiled from numerous online reliable and reputable sources.) 13 Marine Squadrons; 464 pilots; 94 KIA; 177 WIA including fatigue and medical. The Centennial Year of U.S. Marine Corps aviation KIA/MIA 20%. “officially” concludes on May 22, 2013, one year after 427 Japanese aircraft kills. its 100 year birthday when 1/Lt. Alfred A. Cunningham USMC losses: 118 aircraft in combat; 30 in ac- received orders to flight training at Annapolis, MD. So cidents. we’re not done yet! 30 USMC Aces. Earlier Scuttlebutt articles described some of USMC 6 USMC Medals of Honor: aviation history and took us to the opening scenes of o Major John L. Smith the Pacific campaign, namely the fight for -Guadal o Major Robert E. Galer canal as a foothold to open the island-hopping way o Captain Joseph J. Foss to Japan. Operation Watchtower opened with a 1st o Lieutenant Colonel Harold W. Bauer Marine Division amphibious assault on August 7, 1942 o First Lieutenant Jefferson J. DeBlanc commanded by MGEN Alexander Archer Vandergrift. o First Lieutenant James E. Swett (Too few folks realize that Vandergrift Blvd. running USN 16 Aces July to December 1942. through MCB Camp Pendleton is named in his honor.) January 15, 1943 Capt. Joe Foss shoots down 3 aircraft and ties WWI Capt. Eddie Rickenbacher record of 26 victories. Ist MarDiv was relieved on December 9, 1942. So to continue the story…… seventy years ago.

Japanese forces totally withdrew on February 8, 1943. March 22, 1943: Technical Sgt. R.W. Greenwood, a The first Marines to fight in the Central Solomons Marine, sits in the cockpit of a Grumman Wildcat fighter campaign were the airmen based on Guadalcanal plane, based at Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, that and the Russell Islands. They flew the Douglas SBD is credited with shooting down 19 Japanese aircraft, Dauntless dive-bombers that struck at Munda and as illustrated by the number of Japanese flags on elsewhere on New Georgia prior to the landings. In his plane. Several different pilots have flown the ship 1943, the planes were painted, from top to bottom, during successful missions, but Sgt. Greenwood has sea blue, intermediate blue, and semi-gloss sea remained plane captain. (AP Photo) blue, with insignia white undersurface. Department of Defense Photo (USMC) 81420 March/April 2013 The Scuttlebutt 7 Commemorating the Gallant in the Pacific of WWII (cont.) The battles during Watchtower were fought primarily Interesting tragic note: Navy/Marine Corps Corsair with F4F, SBD, TBM/TBF, P400, J2F, PBY, Hudson losses in World War II were Bomber (RNZAF). The U. S. Navy received the F4U By combat: 189 on July 31, 1942 but was dissatisfied with its carrier By enemy anti-aircraft artillery: 349 landing characteristics and issued them to the Marines Accidents during combat missions: 230 shortly after Sept. 25, 1942 for 4 months of issue, Accidents during non-combat flights: 692 buildup, and training. Destroyed aboard ships or on the ground: 164 The F4U Corsairs of VMF-124 did not fly their first combat missions until February 11, 1943, 3 days AFTER OTHER IMPORTANT DATES AFFECTING THE PA- the Japanese had departed the island. U. S. Marines CIFIC WAR: were the first to engage the Corsair in combat (and by February, 1943. There was a small band of Marines June all eight fighter squadrons in the Solomons were whose Veterans feel history has pretty much forgotten equipped with the F4U). Twelve F4U’s escorted a PB2Y about them. In February 1943, the Marine Corps began Coronado “Dumbo” (air/sea rescue) to Vella Lavella to receive its first B-25 bombers, which were renamed to rescue downed pilots. Two days later they escorted PBJs. Seven PBJ squadrons reached the Pacific before PB4Ys of VP-51 on a strike against Japanese ships in the war ended: VMB-413, -423, -433, -443, -611, -612 the Kahili area of Bougainville. and -613. While 173 men and 45 PBJs were lost in the Pacific campaign, few people today are even aware that Marines flew this bomber in World War II. VMB-413, nicknamed the Flying Nightmares, was the first Marine PBJ squadron to see combat beginning in March 1944. Under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Andrew B. Galatian Jr., VMB-413 began operations from Stirling Island in the Treasury Islands Group. Its primary job was heckling Japanese installations at Kavieng on New Ireland and Rabaul on New Britain.

1stLt Ken Walsh of VMF-124 connects his radio lead to his flight helmet before a mission in 1943. He was the first F4U pilot to be decorated with the Medal of Honor, for a mission on 30 August 1943, during which he shot down four Japanese Zeros before ditching his borrowed Corsair. National Archives photo 80-G-54291 Courtesy of Henry Sory USMC PBJ Mitchell bomber Feb. 17, 1943 USS Lexington (CV 16) “Lady Lex” commissioned. Feb. 25, 1943 USS Princeton (CV 23) commissioned. 8 The Scuttlebutt March/April 2013 Commemorating the Gallant in the Pacific of WWII (cont.) March 2-4, 1943 Battle of Bismarck Sea. 5th Air Force don’t grasp how many airplanes we actually had in the and RAAF bombers attacked and destroyed a Japa- Pacific. The U. S. Navy had its carrier and land-based nese reinforcement troop and supply convoy. With a aircraft, and the USAAF had a good-size force. Here loss of 16 ships and thousands of soldiers, there was are some of them: no doubt that the Japanese had suffered a major defeat. 5th USAAF The losses incurred in the Bismarck Sea caused grave concern for the security of Lae and Rabaul. Fighter Groups: March 20, 1943 Forty-two Marine and Navy TBF • 8th FG (P-39) Townsville, Australia Avengers made history from Cactus with the first aerial mining mission in the South Pacific. They made a co- • 35th FG (P-40) Port Moresby, New Guinea ordinated night attack on Kahili Harbor, Bougainville • 49th FG (P-40) Darwin, Australia while AAF heavy bombers pounded the Japanese Kahili Airfield. Bomber Groups: March 28, 1943. JCS new directive. Remainder of 1943 • 3rd BG (B-25, A-20, & A-24) Charters Towers, focused on neutralizing Rabaul. Australia April 15, 1943 USS Yorktown (CV 10) commissioned. • 19th BG (Non-Operational. Battle scarred from Philippines & Java) Mareeba, Australia April 18, 1943 Operation Vengeance. Adm. Yamamoto shot down and killed. Exactly one year after the Dolittle • 22nd BG (B-26) Woodstock, Australia raid on Japan. But that’s another story….. • 38th BG (B-25) Charters Towers, Australia September 6, 1945 Surrender of Rabaul to Austra- • 43rd BG (B-17 until 1943; B-24 1943–1945) lians. Although Operation WATCHTOWER (Battle for Port Moresby, New Guinea Guadalcanal) officially ended on Feb. 9, 1943, U. S. and allied forces continued battling with the Japanese In addition, Fifth Air Force controlled two transport in the Solomons right up to the end of the war in 1945. squadrons and one photographic squadron comprising 1,602 officers and 18,116 men.

The Pagoda at Henderson Field, served as headquarters for Cactus Air Force throughout the first months of air operations on Guadalcanal. From this building, Allied planes were sent against Japanese troops on other islands of the Solomons. Department of Defense (USMC) Photo 50921 The story of U. S. Marine Corps air combat in the Jim Slattery’s PBY Catalina performing low pass Solomons could never have happened without the at Gillespie Field help of many other combatants in the sky. Many of us March/April 2013 The Scuttlebutt 9 American Aces of WWII On July 5, 1944, he became America’s leading ace in Submitted by David Hanson the ETO, with Gabby’s score of 28 destroyed matching This month: Francis “Gabby” Gabreski the total at the time of confirmed victories of the Pacific US Air Force Ace Theatre’s top American ace, Richard Bong. This total was never surpassed by any U.S. pilot fighting the Luftwaffe. On July 20, 1944, Gabreski had reached the 300-hour combat time limit for Eighth Air Force fighter pilots and was awaiting an aircraft to fly him back to the United States on leave and reassignment. However, Gabreski found that a bomber escort mission to Russelheim, Germany, was scheduled for that morning, and instead of boarding the transport, he requested to “fly just one more.” Returning from the mission, Gabreski observed Heinkel He 111s parked on the airfield at Bassenheim, Germany, and took his flight down to attack. Francis “Gabby” Gabreski was the top American fighter Gabreski’s first strafing run on an He 111 was unsuc- ace in Europe during World War II, a jet fighter ace in cessful, and he reversed for a second pass. When Korea, and a career officer in the United States Air his tracers went over the parked bomber he dropped Force with more than 26 years service. the nose of his Thunderbolt to adjust, and its propel- Gabreski earned his wings and his commission as a ler clipped the runway, bending the tips. The damage second lieutenant in the Air Corps in March 1941, and caused his engine to vibrate violently and he was was assigned as a fighter pilot with the 45th Pursuit forced to crash land. Gabreski ran into nearby woods Squadron Wheeler Field, Hawaii, where he trained on and eluded capture for five days, but was eventually Curtiss P-36 Hawks, Curtiss P-40 Warhawks and in captured. He was sent to Stalag Luft I. He was liber- Bell P-39 Airacobras. ated when Soviet forces seized the camp in April 1945. In 1942 he was promoted to captain and reported During the war Gabreski flew 166 combat sorties, and to the Eighth Air Force in England, where he flew was officially credited by the USAAF with 28 aircraft 20 missions in Spitfires as a liason officer with a destroyed in air combat and 3 on the ground. Polish squadron. In 1943, Gabreski joined the 56th Now a colonel, Gabreski flew combat again during the Fighter Group, flying the Republic P-47 Thunder- Korean War. On July 8, 1951, flying his fifth mission in bolt, and quickly became a flight leader. In May he an F-86, Gabreski shot down a MiG 15. This was fol- was promoted to major, and in August he recorded lowed by 5½ more kills to become not only a jet ace, his first credited kill, of an Fw 190 over France. but America’s all-time Fighter Ace.

Gabreski’s victory total steadily climbed through the winter of 1943-44. By March 27, he had earned 18 Gabreski’s 6½ MiG-15 kill credits make him one of victory credits and had six multiple-kill missions to seven U.S. pilots to become an ace in more than one rank third in the “ace race” that had developed within war. Gabreski was officially credited with 123 combat VIII Fighter Command. In April 1944 Gabreski was missions in Korea, totaling 289 for his career. promoted to lieutenant colonel. 10 The Scuttlebutt March/April 2013

Name That Plane ByWhatever Robert Bruce You Can No one guessed the identity of the mystery plane in our last issue. We will run it again in a future edition. In the early 30’s a stranger appeared in a small town Here is this month’s mystery plane submitted by John named Branford. His name was Bill Crane, but he Ford. The first person to send the correct name of this wanted folks to call him “Gus.” He drove a Model-A Ford aircraft to [email protected] will receive a free meal at and rented a small house two blocks behind the five our next monthly meeting. Thanks John! and ten cent store. It wasn’t long before the townsfolk learned he was good at fixing automobiles. One day, the mayor’s car stalled in front of Gus’ house. An hour later it was running like new, and when his honor came by to get his car, he asked Gus how much he owed him. Gus motioned him to the garage behind the house. There, on a small table was a glass vase with a sign that read “Whatever You Can.” The mayor put three dollars in the vase and thanked Gus for the repair. Very soon word got around of Gus’ mechanical skills and he was kept almost too busy with his repair busi- ness. If folks had no money he welcomed eggs, chick- ens or maybe a homemade apple pie. The years went by and his friends noticed he was slowing down, and he himself talked of retiring. Clyde Bremmer down at the feed store suggested that it was time the town did something nice for Gus. The mayor formed a committee, and the plans for a surprise “Gus Crane Day” began in earnest. There would be a parade, picnic, country band, fireworks and a handsome plaque that Gus could hang on his wall. When the big day arrived, the five town council mem- “Well,” snarled the tough old Navy Chief to the be- bers headed for Gus’ house. When no one answered wildered Seaman, “I suppose after you get discharged the door, they went abound back. Still no response. from the Navy, you’ll just be waiting for me to die so Something was wrong, so they forced open the door. you can come and pee on my grave.” They found Gus dead in his bed. Everyone in town “Not me, Chief!” the Seaman replied. “Once I get out was shocked at the news, but the “Gus Day” was of the Navy, I’m never going to stand in line again.” held as scheduled. Gus was not there of course, but his memory was. At the close of the day, talk turned ***** to where his resting place would be. He had no insur- During training exercises, the lieutenant who was ance and only a small balance at his bank. The town driving down a muddy back road, encountered another paid for a plot and a tombstone, but disagreements car stuck in the mud with a red-faced colonel at the surfaced about an epitaph. The entire town gathered wheel. “Your jeep stuck, sir?” asked the lieutenant as at his resting place for the service. He was laid to rest. he pulled alongside. A year went by. A groundskeeper remembered Gus’ “Nope,” replied the colonel, coming over and handing vase. He found it at city hall and he placed it on the him the keys, “Yours is.” grave with a hand-made sign: “If you want to honor Gus, put flowers in the vase or whatever you can.” Soon, a stone was erected behind the vase. The words? “Whatever You Can.” March/April 2013 The Scuttlebutt 11 WW II Little Known History

Thought you might enjoy this from Col D. G. Swinford, Here’s something related from 5th SF, Detachment USMC, Ret. He is definitely a history buff. You’d have B-52’s Tips of the Trade item #32; “Tracers work both to dig deep to get this kind of ringside seat to history; ways.” very interesting: 7. When allied armies reached the Rhine, the first thing 1. The first German serviceman killed in WW II was men did was pee in it. This was pretty universal from killed by the Japanese (China, 1937). the lowest private to Winston Churchill (who made a big show of it) and Gen. Patton (who had himself pho- The first American serviceman killed was killed by the tographed in the act). Russians (Finland 1940); highest ranking American killed was Lt. Gen Lesley McNair, killed by the US Army 8. German Me-264 bombers were capable of bomb- Air Corps. So much for allies. ing New York City, but they decided it wasn’t worth the effort. 2. The youngest US serviceman was 12 years old: Calvin Graham, USN. He was wounded and given a 9. German submarine U-1206 was sunk by a malfunc- Dishonorable Discharge for lying about his age. His tioning toilet. benefits were later restored by act of Congress. 10. Among the first ‘Germans’ captured at Normandy 3. At the time of Pearl Harbor, the top US Navy com- were several Koreans. They had been forced to fight mand was called CINCUS (pronounced ‘sink us’); the for the Japanese Army until they were captured by shoulder patch of the US Army’s 45th Infantry divi- the Russians and forced to fight for the Russian Army sion was the Swastika, and Hitler’s private train was until they were captured by the Germans and forced named ‘Amerika.’ All three were soon changed for PR to fight for the German Army until they were captured purposes. by the US Army. 4. More US servicemen died in the Air Corps than the 11. Following a massive naval bombardment, 35,000 Marine Corps. [Actually the 8th Air Force alone suffered United States and Canadian troops stormed ashore at about 5,000 more KIA than the entire Marine Corps in Kiska, in the Aleutian Islands. 21 troops were killed in WW II.] While completing the required 30 missions, an the assault on the island. It could have been worse if airman’s chance of being killed was 71%. there had been any Japanese on the island. 5. Generally speaking, there was no such thing as an 12. The last Marine killed in WW II was killed by a can average fighter pilot. You were either an ace or a target. of Spam. He was on the ground as a POW in Japan For instance, Japanese Ace Hiroyoshi Nishizawa shot when rescue flights dropping food and supplies came down over 80 planes. He died while a passenger on over, the package came apart in the air and a stray can a cargo plane. of Spam hit him and killed him. 6. It was a common practice on fighter planes to load every 5th round with a tracer round to aid in aiming. This was a mistake. Tracers had different ballistics, so (at long range) if your tracers were hitting the target, Officer: “Soldier, do you have change for a dollar?” 80% of your rounds were missing. Worse yet, tracers Soldier: “Sure, buddy.” instantly told your enemy he was under fire and from which direction. Worst of all was the practice of loading Officer: “That’s no way to address an officer. Now let’s a string of tracers at the end of the belt to tell you that try it again.” you were out of ammo. This was definitely not something you wanted to tell the enemy. Units that stopped Officer: “Soldier, do you have change for a dollar?” using tracers saw their success rate nearly double and Soldier: “No, SIR!” their loss rate go down. 12 The Scuttlebutt March/April 2013 Normandie... Before and After March/April 2013 The Scuttlebutt 13 14 The Scuttlebutt March/April 2013 Laff Trak Old Salt A crusty old battleship admiral died and found himself standing before Saint Peter at the pearly gates. Peter welcomed him warmly, “Come right in, Admiral! You’ve served your country well and you may enter Heaven!” The admiral looked through the gates and stepped up to Saint Peter, “Just one thing, sonny. I hope there are no Chiefs here. They are the rudest, most obnoxious variety of human ever, and if there are any of them here, I’m not going in; I’d rather go to the other place.” “Don’t worry, admiral,” said Saint Peter. “No Chief has ever made it into Heaven – you’ll find none of ‘em here.” So, the admiral goes on into Heaven. Moments later, he comes upon an amazing sight. It is a swaggering figure in khakis, garrison cap cocked slightly on his head, a mostly empty bottle of Jack Daniels in one hand, and a beautiful woman on either arm. Incensed, the admiral rushes back to Saint Peter and gets in his face. “Hey! You said there were no Chiefs here! So what the hell is THAT?!?” “Don’t worry, admiral,” says Saint Peter gently. “That’s God. He just THINKS he’s a Chief.”

Airline Pilots United hired gentlemen with the expectation of training them to become pilots, Northwest hired pilots hoping to train them to become gentlemen. To date, despite their best efforts, neither carrier can be considered successful.

Air Group One—Commemorative Air Force 1905 N. Marshall Ave., Hangar 6 El Cajon, CA 92020